GoGo squeeZ, a maker of kid-friendly squeezable fruit pouches, took notice when four Illustration seniors rebranded its applesauce product for a class project.

The assignment challenged studentsMariel Katafias, Sherlann Lewandowski, Emily Ruff, and Amber Vrsan to create packaging, a print ad, and a motion graphic to sell an existing children’s food product using inspiration from a piece of classic literature.

With only four weeks to complete the project, the students got to work, choosing Frankenstein by Mary Shelley as the inspiration for their redesign of the GoGo squeeZ Applesauce on the Go pouch. As they worked, they posted their progress on social media sites like Tumblr and Twitter with the company’s hash tag, #gogosqueez.

GoGo squeeZ loved what they saw.

“We thought the designs were super creative and playful, so we decided to reach out,” said Tom Stinchfield, content marketing manager and blogger for Live Playfully, the GoGo squeeZ blog. “When we learned that they were doing it as a class project with other students, we thought it would be cool to celebrate all of their hard work by featuring them on [the blog]”

“It was really exciting to have the company contact us and respond so positively to our designs,” Ruff said. “It definitely amped up our motivation and made the project something more than just another school assignment.”

Illustration Assistant Professor Adam Osgood said that, in addition to the perk of having their projects published, the experience taught the students the value of social media.

“The recognition that these four students got from GoGo squeeZ calls attention to the importance of self-promotion via social media for commercial artists,” Osgood said. “Every single illustrator needs to be on multiple social networks building a diverse audience of fans and potential clientele.”

Katafias is from Holland, OH, and attended Central Catholic High School; Lewandowski is from Buffalo, NY, and attended Orchard Park High School; Ruff is from Toledo, OH, and attended E.L. Bowsher High School; and Vrsan is from Tuscarawas, OH, and attended Tuscarawas High School.